Entertainment

Photo Effects App Gains Instagram Support

Instagram users can now take advantage of hundreds of other photo effects and filters, thanks to a new feature in the app 100 Cameras in 1 [iTunes link].

100 Cameras in 1, which is available for the iPhone and iPad, [iTunes link] lets users to apply various effects (and layer effects) onto photographs either stored on the device's camera roll or taken directly from the device itself.

The app already lets users share photos to Flickr, Twitter, Facebook, Smugmumg, Dropbox and email, but the latest update also lets them send a photo directly to Instagram. Rather than using the API to directly publish a photo (something Instagram doesn't currently allow), users instead open the photo that is saved in 100 Cameras in 1 directly inside Instagram. At this point, additional details can be added about location, Instagram's own filters can be applied and users can choose what caption or sharing services they want to use.

It's a clever way to get around Instagram's API publishing limitations, while still respecting the spirit of the Instagram app itself. In a little more than six months, Instagram has amassed over 4 million users. In the ever-growing swath of mobile photo sharing apps, Instagram stands out as the brightest success story, despite only being available for the iPhone.

Part of what makes Instagram so special is, of course, it's easy to use filters and tilt-shift effects, coupled with the ability to post to multiple social networks and services at once. For me, however, what really makes Instagram stand-out from the rest of the pack is the way in which the app lets me browse what my friends are doing. Like Om Malik, I too have taken to using Instagram as the hub for my photo-sharing universe. Even when I don't use Instagram to take the photos I share, I almost always end up sharing those photos through Instagram.

I hope other photo app makers will consider integrating "send to Instagram" support in their own apps. Moreover, I hope that at some point, Instagram will consider whitelisting applications or services that can publish directly to the Instagram network.

What are your favorite photo filter and photo sharing apps? Let us know.

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